Ireland Men’s Hockey Team Touches Down in Bhubaneswar for Inaugural FIH Hockey Pro League Leg

Bhubaneswar: The excitement in Bhubaneswar soared as the Ireland Men’s Hockey Team, ranked 11th globally, landed at the Biju Patnaik International Airport on Sunday, gearing up for their debut appearance in the FIH Hockey Pro League 2023/24. This marks the beginning of the India leg of the tournament, scheduled to unfold at the iconic Kalinga Hockey Stadium in Bhubaneswar from February 10th to 16th, followed by matches at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela from February 19th to 25th.

Led by Captain Sean Murray, Ireland is set to clash with hockey powerhouses such as the Netherlands, Australia, Spain, and the host country, India, during the league. The opening match for Ireland is against the Netherlands on February 10th, followed by encounters with Australia, Spain, and India on the 13th, 15th, and 16th of February, respectively, at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium. The team will then compete in the return fixtures at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela.

Expressing his excitement upon arrival, Captain Sean Murray remarked, “It’s been a long journey, but it’s great to be in India. We are just coming off the FIH Olympic Qualifiers in Valencia, so looking forward to getting our debut FIH Pro League campaign started.”